CancerVax says Canvaxin not effective as post-surgical treatment in melanoma patients

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., March 24 - CancerVax Corp. announced that a review of data from its phase 3 clinical trials concluded that Canvaxin did not demonstrate efficacy as a post-surgical adjuvant treatment for patients with advanced-stage melanoma.

However, the median survival in the clinical trial with Canvaxin in patients with stage 3 melanoma and the clinical trial in patients with stage 4 melanoma are better than or comparable to the median survival in earlier published results of large, multi-center studies with similar patient groups, according to a company news release.

On Oct. 3, CancerVax announced the discontinuation of its phase 3 clinical trial of Canvaxin in patients with stage 3 melanoma, following the recommendation of the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board with oversight responsibility for this clinical trial that. Based upon the data reviewed at the third interim analysis, the board said it was unlikely that the trial would provide significant evidence of a survival benefit for Canvaxin-treated patients versus those receiving a placebo.

In April 2005, the company ended its other phase 3 trial of Canvaxin in patients with stage 4 melanoma based upon a similar board recommendation, following its review of data from the second interim analysis of this clinical trial.

CancerVax, based in Carlsbad, Calif., is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel biological products to treat and control cancer.

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